President to present Cabinet Paper to abolish Executive Presidency

President Maithripala Sirisena will present a Cabinet Paper to abolish the Executive Presidency and to introduce a new electoral system at the Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow (18).

“The Cabinet Paper will be presented tomorrow to abolish the Executive Presidency and to transfer its powers to the Parliament,” President Sirisena said a short while ago on Tuesday (17) during an event held at the Temple Trees in Colombo.

He added the Cabinet Paper will also suggest the establishment of a new electoral system. 

Maithripala Sirisena, when he was the Common Candidate, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the opposition political parties including the United National Party (UNP) in which it agreed to abolish the Executive Presidency, change the electoral system and amend the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.

The President stressed he will abolish the remaining powers of the executive presidency, which are challenging to democracy and freedom of the people.

Speaking at the funeral of late Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero at the Parliament grounds he had also assured steps would be taken to abolish the executive presidency.